insta friday - catching up

Oh it has been awhile hasn't it friends?

I have so much to say.

But for now no time to do so.

So, here is a little instagram recap of the last two weeks.

I'll start with school clothes.

They don't really need 'school clothes', but it's still fun for these girls to shop.

They like it much more than me.  I am not a shopper.  

But their dad promised them a new outfit.

And so it didn't matter that it has been in the 100's.  

They're ready for fall and are going to dress like it.  

I love their little styles.  

And these pants, can I just get a pair in my size already?

Not only are they comfy looking, but the little bows.

School has been rougher this year than I expected.  More on that soon.  

I documented this moment because it was a peaceful one.

One where no one was upset or crying.  Including me.

I'm only kind of joking here.

And this fur-baby of mine she took center stage a bit on my instagram feed.

The Rhonna app was free one day, so I had some fun playing around with it.

Love that squishy face.

And this is how she sleeps, all the time.  It cracks me up. Not a care in the world.

She and my middle

one who is quite the animal whisperer they hang together a lot.  And when Piper wants

her company, she'll literally bark at her til she joins her.  She is super vocal in letting

us know she literally just wants our love.  It's pretty sweet actually.  Here they're

bird and squirrel watching.  Never a dull moment I tell you.

Oh my, it's already starting to be too dark to see the sunrise on my way to my

spinning class.  But for weeks I would be greeted by the most glorious display

of God's handiwork in the early morning.  You just can't help but feel like it's going

to be a good day starting it out this way.

I've had some super happy mail lately.

I fell in love with these cute and necessary alphabet cards

from cottage industry's sweet shop.

She so kindly included a little surprise. 

And you all must know by now that I LOVE

books.  Used books, new books, vintage books especially.

And I also LOVE Tasha Tudor.

I follow quite a few vintage sellers on instagram.

And books are my weakness.

So when I happened to log on to see

Tasha Tudor's Christmas book "Take Joy"

just listed.  And no one had claimed it yet.

OH I just had to. 

She is one of my biggest inspirations 

as an artist and a person.  

I just think she was one amazing lady.

This book is filled with Christmas stories,

sheet music, recipes and neat little tidbits about

her own Christmas celebrations.

And imagine my delight when I opened it

to discover that inside she had signed the book herself.

It'll be fun to look through this year after year.

On to other things.

My husband takes the girls to run errands.

And texts me pictures like this.

My son tried out for a traveling baseball team

and the season has begun.  So we're in full swing

with games and practices.  

It's a whole new group of boys and families

and a whole new experience. 

So far so good!

And they practice at a park where lots of people

are working out.

So the girls and I have decided to get some

exercise with Miss Piper too.

The table set and decorated by the girls.

And power outages, not so fun.

But making the most of it,

reading by flashlight.

And this truth is speaking to me right now.

 "Our hearts are like a sensitive 

photographers plate; in order to have God 

revealed there, we must sit at His feet a long time."

Sometimes we have hard decisions to make.

I know I can feel at times like I'm not sure

where God's voice is.  I don't hear it as clearly

as I'd like.

And so this fact, that sitting, just sitting at His feet.

for a "long time." It's important.

Not to rush or be rash.  

But to make sure we're giving God time

to reveal himself in our heart.  

It's a pretty beautiful thought

and something I know we need to practice.

And this bridge, it just makes me happy.

As does having kids over for dinner playdates,

with the chaos of racing cars and scooters spinning 

through the house.

It takes me back to those toddler and preschool days.

When there weren't classes, and practices,

and homework.

Oh look at their joy. 

I just love it.